Humidifier with throw-away reservoir



June 6, 1967 P. A. mzao 3,323,784

HUMIDIFIER WITH THROW-AWAY RESERVOIR I Filed Nov. 5, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet1 HUMIDISTAT Pefer A. Fazio INVENTOR.

June 6, 1967 P. A. FAZEO 3,323,784

HUMIDIFIER WITH THROW-AWAY RESERVOIR Filed Nov. 5, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 3Fig. 4 0

Pefer A. Fax/'0 INVENTOR.

Attorney:

2;" In" In United States Patent 3,323,784 HUMHDIFIER WITH THRQW-AWAYRESERVORR Peter A. Fazio, 901 Curtis Ave., Joliet, Ill. 60435 Filed Nov.5, 1964, Ser. No. 409,221 8 Claims. (Cl. 261130) This invention relatesto a novel and useful humidifier and more specifically to a humidifierincluding means for vaporizing water and a reservoir for containing thewater which is to be vaporized that is constructed of inexpensivematerials and that is of the disposable type in order that it may bethrown away and inexpensively replaced should it become excessivelycoated with scale in the form of an accumulation of minerals in thewater being handled thereby.

The humidifier additionally includes water supply and dispensing meansfor dispensing water into the reservoir and also heater means supportedin good heat transfer relation relative to the reservoir for heating thewater therein and assisting in evaporation of the water. Still further,the humidifier includes control means for actuating the water dispensingmeans and the heater means and the control means includes means foractuating the heater means in response to an increase of the water levelin the reservoir above a predetermined level and terminating actuationof the heater means in response to a drop in the water level below thepredetermined level. The control means also includes means responsive toa drop in the water level to a second predetermined level above thefirst mentioned predetermined level for actuating the water dispensingmeans and terminating actuation of the water dispensing means inresponse to a rise in the water level above the second predeterminedwater level.

A second liquid supply and dispensing means is also provided and isadapted to meter small quantities of a deodorizing agent or medicatedliquid into the water to be vaporized. In this manner, the humidifiermay be utilized to humidify an entire home, if operatively connected toa forced hot air heating system of the home and also to humidify one ortwo rooms in the home if the portable form of the humidifier isutilized. It will of course also follow that the entire home or one ortwo rooms serviced by the humidifier can also be deodorized orhumidified with water having a medicated liquid therein.

The main object of this invention is to provide a humidifier of the typeincluding an inexpensive throw-away reservoir whereby the reservoir maybe changed with little effort when it has been excessively coated withminerals.

Still another object of this invention, in accordance with theimmediately preceding object, is to provide a humidifier constructed ina manner whereby it may be readily incorporated into the construction ofa portable humidifier adapted to be plugged into any readily availablehousehold electrical current and yet which is also particularly welladapted for manufacture as an addition to an existing forced hot airheating system.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a humidifierincluding means by which deodorizing or medicated liquids and the likemay be accurately metered into the water which is to be vaporizedthereby enabling the humidifier to also deodorize or medicate thebuilding area serviced thereby.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein isto provide a humidifier in accordance with the preceding objects whichwill conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simpleconstruction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will beeconomically feasible, long lasting and relatively troublefree inoperation.

These together with other objects and advantages which e 3,323,784Patented June 6, 1967 will become subsequently apparent reside in thedetails of construction and operation as more fully hereinafterdescribed and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like partsthroughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of the humidifier of theinstant invention which is specifically adapted to be utilized inconjunction with a forced hot air heating system;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially upona plane passing through the center of the humidifier illustrated inFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic-a1 view of the control system of thehumidifier;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the second form of humidifier which isportable in nature and adapted to be moved from one room to anotherinside a building;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view takensubstantially upon a plane indicated by section line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by section line 66 of FIGURE 5; and- FIGURE 7is a diagrammatical view of the control system of the portable form ofhumidifier.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generallydesignates one form of the humidifier of the inst-ant invention which isillustrated in FIG- URES l3 of the drawings and adapted to be utilizedin conjunction with a forced hot air heating system.

The humidifier 10 includes a casing or housing generally referred to bythe reference numeral 12 including a removable top 14 having an outletopening 16 formed therein to which one end of an outlet pipe 18 issecured.

The humidifier 10 includes a support frame 20 which supports anelectrical resistance type heating element 22. The frame 20 defines atable top 24 on which there is disposed a removable and inexpensivethrow-away type reservoir 26. The bottom 28 of the reservoir 26 isdisposed in good heat transfer relation with the heating element 22 andthus the water 30 within the reservoir 26 may be readily heated uponactuation of the heating element 22. a

One side wall 32 of the housing 12 has a solenoid actuated water controlvalve assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 34 mountedthereon by means of a support bracket 36. The control assembly 34includes a water inlet 38 to which the outlet end of a water supply line40 is secured and an outlet 42 to which one end of a supply conduit 44is secured. The supply conduit 44 projects through the side wall 32 andterminates as at 46 above the reservoir 26. The control valve assembly34 includes an electric solenoid 48 which opens the control valveassembly 34 upon its actuation and closes the control valve 34 upon itstermination of operation.

A microswitch assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 50is also supported from the side wall 32 and includes a switch actuatingarm 52 on whose free end a plastic float member 54 is secured, the freeend of the arm 52 projecting through the wall 32 and being disposedabove the reservoir 26.

In addition, a limit switch 56 and a humidistat 58 are supported fromthe side wall 32. With attention now directed more specifically toFIGURE 3 of the drawings it may be seen that the hu-midistat 58, limitswitch 56, microswitch assembly 50, solenoid 48 and heating element 22are all disposed and electrically connected within an electrical circuitgenerally referred to by the reference numeral 60. In addition, theelectrical circuit 60 includes a main control switch 62 and if it isdesiredsupplemental air pump means generally referred to by thereference numeral 64 may also be disposed Within the housing 12 3 andelectrically connected to the electric control circuit 60 by means ofthe conductors 66 and 6 8.

It is to be noted that the humidistat 58 is of the adjustable type andtherefore as long as the safety switch is closed and the microswitchassembly 50 electrically connects the safety limit switch 56 with theheating element 2-2, a drop in the humidity adjacentthe humidistat 58below the setting of the humidistat 58 will cause the heating element 22to be actuated and also the air pump means 64 if the latter is provided.However, operation of the heating element 22 is also dependent on thelevel of the water inasmuch as a drop in the water level within thereservoir 26 will cause the microswitch assembly to terminate electricalconnection between the safety limit switch 56 and the heater element 22and establish electrical connection between the safety limit switch 56and the solenoid 48 for adding water to the reservoir 26. Additionally,it is to be understood that the heating element 22 could be of the typerequiring higher voltage than that which is provided by the electricalcircuit 60 and in this instance the heating element 22 would beconnected to a suitable source of high electrical potential (not shown)by means of a control circuit having a relay operated control switchtherein. Such a relay operated control switch may of course be actuatedby means of a transformer disposed in the electrical circuit 60.

A small supplemental liquid reservoir 74) is secured to the outersurface of the side wall 32 and includes an outlet tube or pipe 72 atits lower end which passes through the side wall 32 and terminates as at'74 above the reservoir 26. The tube 72 is of a restricted diameter inorder that liquid within the reservoir may be slowly metered into water30 disposed within the reservoir 26. The liquid within the smallreservoir 78 may be a medicating liquid or a deodorizing liquid therebyenabling the air passing over the heated water to be also medicated ordeodorized as desired.

With attention directed now more specifically to FIG- URES 4 through 7of the drawings it will be seen that a modified form of the inventiongenerally designated by the reference numeral 80 including a portablehousing 8-2 including depending legs '84. The depending legs 84 are 1provided with adjustable feet portions 86 which may be frame 90 includesan electrical heating element 92 corresponding to the heating element 22and a replaceable reservoir 94 is supported from the frame 90 includingheat transfer relation relative to the heating element 92.

A partition wall 96 is provided in the housing 82 and supports anelectric motor 98 including an output shaft 100 having a fan blade 102mounted thereon. The side wall 104 of the housing 82 is louvered as at106 and the side wall 108 of the housing 82 includes an upper removablepanel 110 which is suitably apertured as at 112 and a pair of lowersliding door panels 114 and 116 which are suitably apertured as at 118and 1 20 respectively.

In addition, a small liquid reservoir 12-2 is supported from the sidewall 124 of the reservoir 88 and includes a metered outlet tube 126whose outlet end terminates as at 128 above the reservoir 94.

The reservoir 88 includes an outlet 130 to which one end of a conduit132 is connected and the outlet end of the conduit 132 is secured to theinlet 134 of a pump assembly generally referred to by the referencenumeral 136 including an outlet to which a conduit 138 is connected, theoutlet end of the conduit 138 terminating as at 140 above the reservoir94. The pump 136 corresponds to the solenoid actuated water controlvalve assembly 34 and in fact may be replaced by a similar solenoidactuated water control valve assembly for dispensing water to thereservoir 94 by means of gravity. Otherwise, if the pump 136 isutilized, actuation of the latter in the manner to be hereinafter morefully set forth will result in water being dispensed from the reservoir88 into the reservoir 94.

A microswitch assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral142 and corresponding to the microswitch assembly 50 is supported fromthe partition or partition wall 96 and includes an actuating arm 144corresponding to the arm 52. The arm 144 projects through the partition96 and has a float member 146 mounted on its free end corresponding tothe float member 54.

With attention now directed more specifically to FIG- URE 7 of thedrawings it may be seen that the humidifier 80 also includes a limitsafety switch 150 which corresponds to the limit safety switch 56 and ahumidistat 152 which corresponds to the humidistat 58. Still further,the control circuit for the humidifier 80 comprises the electricalcircuit generally referred to by the reference numeral 154 and thelatter may be seen to include a control switch 156 corresponding to thecontrol switch 6 2. Still, further, the control circuit 154 includesfirst and second indicator lights 158 and 160.

The operation of the various electrical components of the humidifier 80is substantially identical to the operation of the humidifier 16 and itmay be seen that when the control switch 156 is closed and the humiditydrops below the setting of the humidist-at while the safety switch 150is closed the fan motor 98 and the heater 92 will be actuated. Shouldthe water level within the reservoir 94 drop below a predeterminedlevel, the microswitch 142 will terminate operation of the fan motor 98and the heater 92. In addition, should the water level drop below apredetermined level above that level at which the operation of the fanmotor 98 and the heater 92 is terminated, the solenoid or pump 136 willbe actuated to increase the supply of Water within the reservoir 94.Then, as the water level in the reservoir 94 reaches a higherpredetermined level, the

microswitch assembly 142 will operate to terminate actuation of thesolenoid or pump 136. Should be the water level within the reservoir 94drop below the predetermined level at which the solenoid or pump 136 isactuated, the indicator light 161) will also be actuated and wheneverthe humidistat 152 calls for operation of the humidifier 80, theindicator light 158 will also be actuated.

Operation of the fan motor 98 will cause air to be drawn into the lowerportion of the housing 82 disposed below the reservoir 88 through theaperture 120. The air entering the housing 82 will then be passed overthe reservoir 94 having the heated water therein and certain quantitiesof the heated water will then be vaporized and carried out of thehousing 82 through the louvers 106. The small reservoir 122 will ofcourse continuously operate to dispense small metered quantities of adeodorizing or medicated liquid into the water within the reservoir 94whereby the humidified air passing outwardly through the louvers 106will also carry medicating or deodorizing vapors.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A humidifier comprising a support frame, an evaporation reservoirsupported from said frame, heater means operative to heat the water insaid reservoir, water supply and dispensing means for dispensing waterinto said reservoir, control means for actuating said water dispensingmeans and said heater means, said control means including means foractuating said heater means in response to an increase of the waterlevel in said reservoir above a first predetermined level andterminating actuation of said heater means in response to a drop in saidwater level below said predetermined level and means responsive to adrop in said water level to a second predetermined level above the firstmentioned predetermined level for actuating said water dispensing meansand terminating actuation of said water dispensing means in response toa rise in said water level above said second predetermined level, saidhumidifier including air pump means for causing a flow of air over thewater in said reservoir, said control means including means foractuating said air pump means upon and for the duration of actuation ofsaid heater means.

2. The combination of claim 1 including a main control defining ahumidistat operatively connected to said control means for renderingsaid control means operative to actuate said dispensing means and saidheater means only in response to a drop in the humidity at saidhumidistat below the setting of said humidistat.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said humidifier includes a secondreservoir including vertical outlet means therefor operable to dispensethe liquid in said second reservoir into the water disposed in the firstmentioned reservoir.

4. The combination of claim 1 including a main control defining ahumidistat operatively connected to said control means, said controlmeans including indicator means for indicating when said humidistat isnot satisfied.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said control means includesindicator means for indicating when said Water level drops to saidsecond predetermined level 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein saidhumidifier includes air pump means for causing a flow of air over theWater in said reservoir, said control means including means foractuating said air pump means during actuation of said heater means.

7. A humidifier comprising a support frame, an evaporation reservoirsupported from said frame, heater means operative to heat the water insaid reservoir, water supply and dispensing means for dispensing waterinto said reservoir, control means for actuating said water dispensingmeans and said heater means, said control means including means foractuating said heater means in response to an increase of the waterlevel in said reservoir above a first predetermined level andterminating actuation of said heater means in response to a drop in saidwater level below said predetermined level and means responsive to adrop in said water level to a second predetermined level above the firstmentioned predetermined level for actuating said water dispensing meansand terminating actuation of said water dispensing means in response toa rise in said water level above said second predetermined level, saidhumidifier including a second reservoir including vertical outlet meanstherefor operable to dispense the liquid in said second reservoir intothe water disposed in the first mentioned reservoir, said support framebeing disposed within a portable housing, said housing including airpump means for causing a flow of air over the Water in the firstmentioned reservoir, said control means including means for actuatingsaid air pump means during actuation of said heater means.

8. The combination of claim 7 including a main control defining ahumidistat operatively connected to said control means for renderingsaid control means operative to actuate said dispensing means and saidheater means only in response to a drop in the humidity at saidhumidistat be low the setting of said humidistat.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,389,804 9/1921 Wrenn 126-l132,77 6,553 1/1957 Williamson.

2,804,067 8/ 1957 Elgin.

2,993,107 7/1961 Fichtner 126-113 X 3,181,844 5/1965 Glaze 261-142 X3,209,125 9/1965 Morrissey 219272 3,215,416 11/1965 Liben 261142 HARRYB. THORNTON, Primary Examiner.

RONALD R, WEAVER, Examiner.

1. A HUMIDIFIER COMPRISING A SUPPORT FRAME, AN EVAPORATION RESERVOIRSUPPORTED FROM SAID FRAME, HEATER MEANS OPERATIVE TO HEAT THE WATER INSAID RESERVOIR, WATER SUPPLY AND DISPENSING MEANS FOR DISPENSING WATERINTO SAID RESERVOIR, CONTROL MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID WATER DISPENSINGMEANS AND SAID HEATER MEANS, SAID CONTROL MEANS INCLUDING MEANS FORACTUATING SAID HEATER MEANS IN RESPONSE TO AN INCREASE OF THE WATERLEVEL IN SAID RESERVOIR ABOVE A FIRST PREDETERMINED LEVEL ANDTERMINATING ACTUATION OF SAID HEATER MEANS IN RESPONSE TO A DROP IN SAIDWATER LEVEL BELOW SAID PREDETERMINED LEVEL AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO ADROP IN SAID WATER LEVEL TO A SECOND PREDETERMINED LEVEL ABOVE THE FIRSTMENTIONED PREDETERMINED LEVEL FOR ACTUATING SAID WATER DISPENSING MEANSAND TERMINATING ACTUATION OF SAID WATER DISPENSING MEANS IN RESPONSE TOA RISE IN SAID WATER LEVEL ABOVE SAID SECOND PREDETERMINED LEVEL, SAIDHUMIDIFIER INCLUDING AIR PUMP MEANS FOR CAUSING A FLOW OF AIR OVER THEWATER IN SAID RESERVOIR, SAID CONTROL MEANS INCLUDING MEANS FORACTUATING SAID AIR PUMP MEANS UPON AND FOR THE DURATION OF ACTUATION OFSAID HEATER MEANS.